Updated: March 28, 2024
Name: Kutsenko Vadim Aleksandrovich
Date of Birth: January 12, 1989
Current status: charges withdrawn
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 5 day in a temporary detention facility

Biography

On February 10, 2020, a massive raid on civilians in Chita, as well as in other cities and towns of the Trans-Baikal Territory, took place. On this day, a total of 50 searches were carried out in the homes of believers - with threats, beatings and interrogations. Officers of one of the law enforcement agencies handcuffed Vadim Kutsenko, closed his eyes and tortured him, taking him to an unknown destination in an official car. Thus, they tried to no avail to force him to give false testimony against his fellow believers. What is known about him?

Vadim was born in January 1989 in Sharypovo (Krasnoyarsk Territory). His mother is a believer, she raised her son, instilling in him Christian qualities and love for God.

As a child, Vadim was fond of wood burning, went to art school, and participated in chess competitions. He received a secondary specialized education and acquired the profession of an auto mechanic. He worked at a furniture factory, was engaged in dry cleaning of upholstered furniture, worked as a computer technician.

Despite the fact that he grew up in a religious family, he made the decision to serve God on his own. This happened in 2009. Vadim was convinced that he had chosen the right path of life by clear biblical answers to all the questions that arose in his mind.

For some time he lived in Usolye-Sibirskoye. I met Catherine, who is also familiar with the Bible since childhood. In 2017, the couple got married, and they moved to Chita, where his wife lived. Ekaterina works as a manicurist. Vadim and his wife love to relax in nature, take walks, travel.

After the sad events of February 2020, Vadim was fired from his job. Health has also deteriorated, which is why the wife is very worried. Relatives and friends are outraged by such cruel, inhuman and unlawful treatment that Vadim experienced.

Case History

Vladimir Ermolaev, Aleksandr Putintsev, Sergey Kirilyuk and Igor Mamalimov faced prosecution for their faith in 2020, when security forces carried out 50 searches in Chita and other cities in Transbaikalia. During the raid, several believers were detained and two were tortured. Mamalimov, Kirilyuk and Ermolaev were placed in a temporary detention facility, where they spent several days. At some point, four more believers were suspects in the case, but their criminal prosecution was discontinued. For holding peaceful religious services, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation accused Ermolaev, Putintsev, Mamalimov and Kirilyuk of organizing the activity of an extremist organization. Despite the fact that there were no victims in the case and there was no evidence of crimes against the state and the individual, in 2022 the court sentenced Vladimir Ermolaev, Aleksandr Putintsev and Igor Mamalimov to imprisonment in a penal colony for 6 to 6.5 years, and Sergey Kirilyuk - to 6 years suspended. The court of appeal upheld this verdict. The courts of appeal and cassation did not change this verdict.